THE candidate for the party formerly known as Brexit has been announced for the upcoming North Shropshire by-election ­- and it is a familiar face for Oswestry.

Kirsty Walmsley has been selected as the candidate for Reform UK, which re-branded from Brexit in January this year after it was co-founded by Nigel Farage in 2018.

Ms Walmsley is the daughter of former Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow, who has worked for former North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson's previous election campaigns for the Conservatives, and current Shropshire councillor Joyce Barrow.

Richard Tice, Reform UK leader, said they were selecting a candidate who epitomises what is to be from North Shropshire.

"We have an incredible candidate to get behind," he said.

"Our very own Kirsty is no stranger to the constituency. She was born there, schooled there, got married there and has had two beautiful children there.

"Not only that, but Kirsty helped to run a popular family business in the constituency, started her own business there and was once a cabinet member on the local council.

"You could say that Kirsty is North Shropshire and is exactly the right candidate to take on a Westminster elite who have once again betrayed the trust placed in them by local voters.

"Given that the last MP resigned in the mid of a sleaze scandal, a candidate like Kirsty, whose integrity and moral standards are beyond reproach, is exactly what voters in North Shropshire need to help restore their faith in our democracy.

"Kirsty really does want to change politics for good and with your help she can."

The party will be kicking their campaign off at Castle steps on Tuesday at 1.30pm.